Strawberry lemonade, corn on the cob, hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, potato salad, ice cream sundaes… What foods shout “It’s the Fourth of July!” to you?
There are so many different ways to celebrate the Fourth, from cookouts in the backyard to weekends at the lake, from fireworks shows at the stadium to smoke bombs on the driveway. But one thing’s for certain: a Fourth of July celebration just isn’t right without delicious food!
Not sure what you should bring to the party? We’ve got you covered with plenty of suggestions. Choose from red, white, and blue fruit kabobs to Mexican chopped salad, from firework pudding cookies to summer salads. We have eleven flavor-packed ideas for side dishes and desserts to bring to your next Fourth of July celebration.
Macaroni Salad
The Fourth of July is usually a steaming hot day, so cool off with some delicious macaroni salad. You’ll need (check this recipe for the quantities):
- elbow macaroni (cooked), mayo, sour cream, cider vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, black pepper, celery, red bell pepper, and parsley
In a large bowl, combine the mayo, sour cream, cider vinegar, yellow mustard, sugar, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing. Then, add in the macaroni. Stir in the celery, diced red bell pepper, and finely chopped parsley. Chill for 1 hour before you serve to your guests!
Red, White, and Blue Fruit Kabobs
You can’t go wrong with red, white, and blue food on the Fourth of July. To make this delicious appetizer, you only need a few simple ingredients:
- 24 bamboo skewers, 1 pint of strawberries, 1 pint of blueberries, and 1 cup of mini marshmallows (or if you’re looking for a healthier alternative, use chopped jicama or sliced bananas instead for the white)
After you rinse your fruit, cut the strawberries into small pieces that are about the same size as the blueberries. For the best presentation, make sure the strawberry seed sides are all facing the same direction. It’s also best to arrange them on the skewer in the order of strawberry, marshmallow, then blueberry. Serve 24 hours after you prepare them so that they’re still fresh!
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Fourth of July just isn’t right without grilled corn on the cob. For this side, all you need is corn, salt, pepper, and butter. Take a look at this recipe for all the tips you need to grill the tastiest corn on the cob for your guests.
Veggie Cups with Ranch Dip
Here’s a super easy, super healthy appetizer you can bring to the party. If you’re short on time but you still want to bring something healthy, this is the side dish for you! All you need is:
- clear plastic cups, 4 carrot sticks per cup, 3 celery sticks per cup, 3 red pepper sticks per cup, 3 grape or cherry tomatoes per cup, and 1 spoonful of ranch dip per cup
Put the ranch dip in the bottom of the cup, and then arrange the rest of the veggies in the way that looks the best to you!
Mexican Chopped Salad
Have a little time on your hands? This Mexican chopped salad truly is flavor-packed and worth the time. Hobby chefs and adventurous spirits, you can make your own tortilla strips and dressing.
Here’s what you’ll need for this chopped salad:
- lime dressing, tortilla strips, lettuce, bell pepper, red onion, jicama, zucchini, tomatoes, corn, black beans, and cilantro
Combine all the salad ingredients first, then add the dressing and stir to coat all the ingredients. Then, add the tortilla strips on top (or on the side if anyone has a corn allergy), and garnish with the cilantro!
Read More: 10 Dishes to Make When It’s Too Hot to Turn on the Oven
Tomato, Cucumber, Avocado Salad
If you’re looking for a simple, flavor-filled salad to bring to your Fourth of July celebration, this is the recipe for you! You can’t go wrong with tomato, cucumber, and avocado. Here’s what you need:
- 1 ½ cups of chopped tomatoes (or just cherry tomatoes), 1 cucumber (sliced), 1 avocado (diced), 4 ounces of feta cheese, 2 tablespoons of minced parsley, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, and black pepper to taste
For this salad, start by adding the tomatoes (slice them in half first if they’re cherry tomatoes) to the bowl first. Then, add the cucumber, avocado, feta cheese (in cubes), and parsley to the top. Make your dressing by whisking the red wine vinegar and olive oil together. Then, toss the salad so that all ingredients are covered.
Make sure you serve this salad immediately. If you need to prepare it ahead of time, leave out the avocado and add it as close as possible to serving time.
Ready to delight your guests with some sugary treats? Take a look at these five festive dessert ideas for the Fourth of July!
Blueberry Peach Crumble Crisp
While there might not be anything as American as apple pie, this blueberry peach crumble crisp is a summertime classic that’s sure to be a hit at your Fourth of July celebration. For this recipe, you’ll need:
- 2 cups of blueberries, 6 peaches (peeled and sliced), lemon zest, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/4 a teaspoon of vanilla, 1/4 a cup of sugar, and 1/4 a cup of flour
To make it a crumble, you’ll also need these ingredients for the topping:
- 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of old-fashioned oats, 2/3 cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and 12 tablespoons of cold butter, in cubes
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, let the baking begin! Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, then spray a 9 by 9 baking dish (glass) with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine all the fruit, lemon juice, sugar, vanilla, and flour.
In another bowl, whisk together your flour, oats, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Then add the cubed butter and using your fingers, crumble it together with the dry ingredients.
Pour the fruit into the baking dish and then drizzle the crumble topping over the fruit. Bake it for 40-45 minutes until it’s golden brown and bubbling. Voila! You have an amazingly sweet Fourth of July treat to share!
Fireworks Pudding Cookies
Enjoy this tasty treat all day long or save them until after the fireworks show! You can’t go wrong with cookies: they’re super easy to transport no matter where you’re celebrating, and they’re always a hit!
To get an idea of what this recipe involves, you’ll need:
- unsalted butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, an egg, instant vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, salt, flour, red and blue sprinkles, and 4th of July M&Ms
You’ll have to chill the dough beforehand, and you’ll also need either a stand mixer or a hand mixer. Make sure you have a Silpat baking mat. Check here for the quantities and step-by-step directions for making this tasty, festive treat.
Pretzel and Fruit Flag
This pretzel and fruit flag is festive, tasty, and super easy to make! For the red stripes, you can choose the fruit you like the best. Strawberries, cherries, and raspberries all look great!
Take a square or rectangular dish. Arrange your red fruit into the stripes. Then, add your pretzels. They can be covered with white chocolate or yogurt – they just need to be white for the stripes! In the corner, add a bowl of blueberries (about two cups), or add them directly to the dish. Ta-da! You have a super festive dessert to share!
Firecracker Popcorn
Make your popcorn as fiery as the fireworks in the sky by adding Pop Rocks! That’s right: for this recipe you need popcorn, strawberry Pop Rocks candy, white candy melts, and blue sprinkles.
First, pop your popcorn and then spread it on a cookie sheet, allowing it to cool. Melt the white candy melts either on the stove or in the microwave, and then drizzle it on top of the popcorn. Next, add the strawberry Pop Rocks to the popcorn. Last, add the blue sprinkles. Allow them to harden, and that’s it! Your firecracker popcorn is ready and you’re about to surprise everyone at the party!
Fourth of July Ice Cream Sandwiches
It’s not the Fourth of July without ice cream! This is one of the simplest recipes on this list: all you need are ice cream sandwiches and Fourth of July sprinkles.
Take a cookie sheet and line it with parchment paper. Then, take a bowl and fill it with the Fourth of July sprinkles. Dip the sides of the ice cream sandwiches in the sprinkles and then lightly press the sprinkles into the ice cream. Place them carefully on the cookie sheet and take them out right before you’re ready to serve them!
No matter how you celebrate the Fourth of July, it’s easy to get into the spirit of the holiday with the right dish!
Read More: Simple and Delicious Appetizers for Your Next Holiday Party
